Last September, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened a probe into the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor for a possible problem with the steering assembly.
Auto News
AutoGuide News Blog
The AutoGuide News Blog is your source for breaking stories from the auto industry. Delivering news immediately, the AutoGuide Blog is constantly updated with the latest information, photos and video from manufacturers, auto shows, the aftermarket and professional racing.
The new Ford Police Interceptor has received another engine option, with the American automaker adding a 3.7-liter twin independent variable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT) engine to the lineup pushing 305-hp and 279 lb-ft of torque.
Ford‘s Panther chassis, platform for the iconic P71 Police Interceptor, is anything but a slouch, but after more than 30 years of service both Ford and police recognize the need for a change.
Ford started building police variants of the LTD Crown Victoria in 1979, by 1992 the company’s cars evolved from modified civilian sedans to law enforcement machines.
Agencies are looking for something more fuel efficient options than the aging Crown Victoria’s and the 14 mpg city and 21 mpg highway rating from its thirsty V8 as municipal budgets shrink with the rocky U.S. economy.
Ford says the the next generation Interceptors address that concern and offer significantly improved fuel efficiency. The Taurus-based Interceptor sedan gets 18 mpg city and 26 mpg highway, a 4.5 mpg average improvement over the previous Interceptor. During 10-hour shifts of Police duty, police cars idle for approximately 6.7 hours of the duration so Ford has made improvements on idle consumption as well. The latest Taurus Interceptor will also use 35 percent less fuel at idle thanks to its smaller displacement 3.5 liter V6 engine.
What’s more, the Explorer-based Interceptor SUV achieves an estimated 16 mpg city and 22 mpg highway, a best-in-class figure for police spec utility vehicles.
Ford managed to keep performance intact, despite the improved efficiency. A 3.5-liter V6 is used for both vehicles, producing 288 hp. That translates to a 38-hp gain over the outgoing V8.
During 0-60 runs, results show that the V6 Ford Explorer Interceptor Utility can reach 60 mph one full second faster than the competing V8 Chevrolet Tahoe PPV.
An Eco-Boost turbocharged 3.5 liter V6 producing 365-hp is available as an option as well. Combined with all-wheel-drive, the powerful Ford police vehicle out-accelerates competitors from Dodge and Chevrolet.
The Chicago police department ordered and will soon take delivery of approximately 500 Ford Police Interceptors this year, making the city the first to field test Ford’s ne enforcement vehicles.
GALLERY: Ford Taurus, Ford Explorer Interceptor
We’ve come across several, really awesome collector’s cars over at RK Motors, but this one might be the best yet. And we’re pretty confident that this 1984 Ford LTD is pretty much one-of-a-kind. Why? Well it’s a genuine police car, sirens and all!
The vehicle was originally sold to the Greenville County, South Carolina Sheriff’s Department on June 8th, 1984 and after several years of service and a complete restoration, this unique LTD can be had for just $16,900. That includes the 5.0L Ford Mustang V8 under the hood, giving old-school cops the right to call the LTD LX a four-door Mustang.
Taking a look at the exterior of the vehicle, it’s clear that a very meticulous paint job was applied while all the chrome parts were restored to showroom shine. Inside, the interior looks just as immaculate with gray cloth and a vinyl floor. But what’s awesome inside is the radio and electronic equipment (which still functions), and a vintage cage that holds a correct gun rack.
Act quick if you’re interested, this is definitely one of the coolest collector’s car yet.
Check out a video highlighting this collector’s car after the break.
GALLERY: Greenville SC LTD 5.0 Police Car
[Source: RK Motors]
A Dodge Charger police car catching fire and burning to the ground, has prompted Chrysler to replace the car and the gear inside for free. The Curry County, Oregon squad car only had 6,000 miles on it, when it burnt to a crisp/
The car was stopped to assisst in a successful search and rescue opertion in which a man named Patrick Combs, was found and taken to the hospital by ambulance. Deputy Jared Gray’s new Charger was the sole casualty, after catching fire while stopped.
Chrysler agreed to replace the cruiser, however the Sheriff’s department had to agree to sign a non-disclosure agreement(NDA). An NDA, also known as a secrecy agreement, is a legal contract, signed between the two parties that restricts access to third parties, which means the general public may never know what set the car ablaze.
The fire seemed to start in the passenger-side front wheel well and continued to reignite after fire crews continued to extinguish the blaze.
[Source: Jalopnik]
Rumors of Holden vehicles, specifically the rear-drive Commodore, coming to the U.S. have always been a fixture of the automotive media, and with the Holden-based Pontiac G8′s demise a few years ago, some of them have seemed to be more wishful thinking than anything of substance.
General Motors is bringing back the larger Holden Statesman as a fleet-only Chevrolet Caprice, but that hasn’t stopped some suspiciously civilian-looking examples from popping up, including the one spied by an Edmunds Inside Line staffer, which is totally devoid of any police-style accouterments.
We’ve seen other shots that suggest that this is what the unmarked versions of the Caprice will look like, but we can still hold out hope that it’s also the basis for something much better, and available to the general public.
[Source: Inside Line]
While the Chevrolet Caprice is reserved for police vehicle fleets only, there have been some rumors about a civilian version making its way to showrooms for public consumption, and the latest videos showing footage of a police evaluation event only seem to further that.
Previous shots of the Caprice have either shown it in full police livery, or an “unmarked” version which ditched the lightbar and graphics but still retained the steel wheels and blacked out grilles. But the Caprices used in the latest video look like they could be sold to customers, if not for the small flashing lights hidden in the front fascia. Otherwise, the alloy wheels and interior devoid of any police equipment look pretty production ready. If it’s any consolation, we pressed one GM engineer at the Camaro Convertible launch about such a vehicle, and he answered with a wry smile, stating “these things have a way of happening”.
[Source: Youtube]
Video after the jump
Our friends at Jalopnik managed to get their hands on these photos of the 2011 Dodge Charger Pursuit being put through the wringer at the Michigan State Police’s annual vehicle evaluation tests.
The MSP evaluation is a well recognized system designed to see how police package vehicles would hold up to the rigors of police duty. The results will be released in December, but judging by the pictures, we can confirm that the 2011 Charger looks badass. We can’t wait until these start showing up on the used market.
Gallery: Dodge Charger Pursuit
[Souce: Jalopnik]
The Dodge Charger Pursuit got one of its first public viewings at a police trade show. Lund Industries, which makes police car accessories like gun racks and light bars, had a 2011 Charger on display to show off their wares, and were kind enough to take video of the Charger for those who aren’t in law enforcement.
Chrysler still has yet to release pictures of the civilian Dodge Charger, so for now, the black-and-white patrol car is our best look yet. We can’t wait to get a chance to sample one with a HEMI.
[Source: Edmunds]
Hit the jump to see the 2011 Dodge Charger Pursuit In Action
Chevrolet‘s fleet-only Caprice will likely be sold to the General Public after a tide of interest forced General Motors to re-consider their plans to restrict sales to fleets.
The Caprice is essentially a stretched version of the Pontiac G8, a rear-drive, V8 powered large sedan based off the much-lauded, Australian market Holden Commodore. The G8 was beloved by enthusiasts but tepidly received by the public. The G8 lasted only two model years before the Pontiac brand was killed by General Motors.
According to a report from Carenvy.ca, a “very reliable source” confirmed that the car will be sold in dealerships, but gave no details as to trim levels or how the vehicle would be positioned. After contact Car Envy’s Peter Dushenski, we’re inclined to believe the information as true. The new Caprice nameplate has a ton of cachet among a few demographics, as boomers remember the car from their youth, and young people associate the car with hip-hop music, lowriders and “donks”. The prospect of a Corvette derived small-block V8 is also enticing.
General Motors also revealed their first pictures of the “Detective Package” Caprice, which should give some major clues as to how the civilian version will look if it comes to market. A Caprice sold to the public will likely have an upgraded interior compared to the G8 and the workhorse versions, and don’t be surprised to see a V6 version as well.
[Source: Carenvy.ca]
Cara-what? The Carabinieri, Italy’s paramilitary police, are famous for their sharp liveried Alfa Romeo sedans, which can be seen driving around the streets of Rome, Genoa, Milan and other glamorous locales we know about only through movies and stereotypical depections of la dolce vita.
The Carabinieri have traditionally chosen the Alfas for their driving prowess, but a Sydney, Australia-area police force has chosen the cute-as-a-button Alfa Romeo MiTo for “community outreach” work. The MiTo joins a Hummer H3 and a Holden Commodore, but we think that younger children in particular will respond will to the Alfa’s diminutive size and toy-car-like styling.
[Source: Autoblog]
No, somebody’s mother didn’t take Halloween a little too far. The Bavarian Police, presumably unaware of the correlation between shopping bags and the BMW X3, are testing a version of the soft roader for highway duty.
The model in question is the X3 xDrive30d — complete with a stonking 218 horsepower six-cylinder diesel engine. Aside from that incredible powerplant, the X3 is adorned with enough LED lights to make an Audi jealous. From its hidden lights in the front bumper, to the rear hatch light show, you’d see this Bavarian cream puff a mile away.
Which is probably the point. That said, the last time we were on the autobahn, we were averaging just under 120 mph — in a diesel MINI — with half the horsepower. Maybe that weakling patrol car X3 isn’t so useless after all…
No, somebody’s mother didn’t take her Halloween costume a little too far. The Bavarian Police, presumably unaware of the correlation between shopping bags and the BMW X3, are testing a version of the soft roader for highway duty.
The model in question is the X3 xDrive30d — complete with a stonking 218 horsepower six-cylinder diesel engine. Aside from that incredible powerplant, the X3 is adorned with enough LED lights to make an Audi jealous. From its hidden lights in the front bumper, to the rear hatch light show, you’d see this Bavarian cream puff a mile away.
Which is probably the point. That said, the last time we were on the autobahn, we were averaging just under 120 mph — in a diesel MINI — with half the horsepower. Maybe that weakling patrol car X3 isn’t so useless after all…
GALLERY: BMW X3 Police Cruiser
It says something about our society when we get all excited about a new police car. Jaguar wades into this hotly-contested arena (in the UK, sorry Alabama!) as one of the sort-of cool police cars.
You know, an atypical police vehicle like the Hyundai Genesis, Lexus IS-F, Lamborghini Gallardo, and so on. In the UK, police aren’t as infatuated with high-speed pursuits, so this Jag is a diesel.
Seven are on the beat right this moment, in Staffordshire, Mercia, and the West Midlands — and other than the day glo stickers, light bar, and “Home Office” electronics, they’re standard.
Just for fun, click on to see a clip of a UK police show — things really are different over there.
[Source: Autocar]
It says something about our society when we get all excited about a new police car. Jaguar wades into this hotly-contested arena in the UK — sorry Alabama! — as one of the sort-of cool police cars.
You know, an atypical police vehicle like the Hyundai Genesis, Lexus IS-F, Lamborghini Gallardo, and so on. In the UK, police aren’t as infatuated with high-speed pursuits, so this Jag is a diesel.
Seven are on the beat right this moment, in Staffordshire, Mercia, and the West Midlands — and other than the day glo stickers, light bar, and “Home Office” electronics, they’re standard.
Just for fun, click on to see a clip of a UK police show — things really are different over there.
GALLERY: Jaguar XF Police Cruiser
[Source: Autocar]
Hyundai’s Genesis sedan is a vehicle of many talents; effortless highway cruiser, stoplight drag race sleeper and plush transporter of discrete well-to-do types. Now you can add “Police Interceptor” to the list.
With its snazzy blue and gold livery and copious lighting equipment, the Genesis doesn’t have the same intimidation factor as, say, a black and white Crown Vic, but the 290 horsepower V6 and 375 horsepower V8 mean that the Genesis is significantly faster than the venerable Ford.
The Genesis police car is a cool idea, but in a densely populated country where traffic moves at a snails pace, its hard to see the logic of an enormous, gas guzzling V8 sedan. A Genesis Coupe, with its 2.0L turbo four-banger is the more sensible (and cooler) choice.
[Source: Chosun]